These daydreams of mine...

This was a story I started years ago on tumblr and never finished it because I make a lot of excuses. If you would like to read the full story thus far, check out the tab on my page titled “Steampunk Gotham”. Luckily, I have a friend who read it, loved it, and reminds me how terrible I am at posting ever since. This part is dedicated to him.

Thank you, Josh. I hope it was worth the wait.

The feeling of rose petals glided across her skin leaving a tingling pulse from each velvet touch. She smiled in adoration of her vibrant children, every red bloom more lovely than the last. She whispered loving phrases to each of them as she moved through the row of roses, inspiring them to grow and thrive in a world ruled by selfishness and corruption. Her babies meant everything to her, having them close calmed the silent rage that threatened to bubble over every time a sleazy business executive announced the opening of a new mall or condominium which was once a lush, green park. Gotham could be so beautiful if only it was more plant friendly, so Poison Ivy would make it more beautiful.

Moss lined the cool ground under her bare feet like a blanket to the earth as she approached a brightly lit table adorned with colourful assortments of flowers in pink crystal vases. In the middle of the table was her most prized possession; the rare Altruthian Venus Fly. A plant so powerful it is able to snap off a full-grown humans arm in its wide, leafy jaws. The Altruthian (or ‘Arthur’ as Harley had taken to calling it whenever she bounced by for some green tea) has a toxin it sprays out when its sensitive leaves picks up the vibrations of another living organism. If the colourless, odorless gas is sprayed into the air and the victim is unlucky enough to inhale the unseen toxin, it would render them unconscious within moments leaving Arthur to reach down and gobble its victim like an anaconda in the jungle.

"My little angel," she cooed as she leaned over the plant, "how do we feel tonight?" Her fingertips brushed over the leaves of the plant as it shivered under her touch. "Mother will fix you something to eat. You stay right here, my darling, I'll be right back."

The dark green-room she stood in enveloped her in smells of exotic flowers and feeding solutions. Her home, her paradise, her sanctuary was always a place of comfort for her. Flower pots, vases, gardening tools and full flower beds made up a maze of beauty in the large room. A large vine unfurled itself down from the ceiling towards Ivy, stroking her arm affectionately. She paused to listen to her vine through her pale green skin, absorbing its worries and concerns.

“An intruder? We can’t have pests running around my precious babies, now can we? It’s simply unsafe.” she laced her fingers around the vine, curling it between her forefinger and thumb, green eyes burning with the desire. “Of course, it will only be unsafe for the pest.” The garden responded to her tone with a shiver of leaves as the vine wrapped itself under her weight, lifting her off her feet and guiding her to the intruder. “Shall we spray our pests?”

The vine carried her through an archway of yellow blossoms and up onto the balcony of the green-room where she could sit and watch for her prey to stumble blindly into Arthurs path.

Only moments later did she see a shadow appear from the dark corners of the room. Her eyes widened with delight as the shadow slowly walked to the table. She held her breath in anticipation of what was to come. The shadow reached a steady hand towards the rare plant, knowing nothing of its biology. Ivy could feel every plant in the room waiting for what happens next. Arthur sprayed its gas in the air around the shadow which took only moments to drop to the floor. Ivy released her breathe as the vine lifted her to the ground where the body lay. She breathed the remainder of the toxin deep into her lungs as it had no effect on her, calming herself before she inspected her victim. As she knelt next to the body, resting her fingertips in the moss growing around her for comfort, she fell back with shock as the crumpled shadow quickly threw itself on top of her, pinning her to the floor.

“Damn you!” she cried starring up into the glass eyes of the Bats goggles, a gas mask covering what she knew would be a smug look of triumph. Her vine quickly rushed to her aid, wrapping itself around the Batman and throwing him across the room. He rolled and landed swiftly on two feet, hurling two bronze batarangs at the attacking vine which screeched in pain and slunk away behind its master. Ivy stood, eyes narrowed with rage and plucked the weapons from her vine, giving them one vile look before tossing them to the floor.

“What do you want?” her voice was calm, but her fury spoke through her plants that shook in terror.

“An antidote to a toxin, one of Jokers. I need it now. Selina’s life is at risk.” His words were deep and clear regardless of the gas mask that barely moved as he spoke.

“And why would I help you? All you or that feline have ever been for me are thorns in my side.” She thought for a moment and flipped her long red hair as she turned away from the Batman, striding to the table where Arthur sat. “However, I cannot accept that Catwoman’s death would be at the hands of that mad clown.” Behind her most loved plant sat a smaller, yellow cactus. She plucked a needle from the cactus and slowly turned back to Batman. “But I want something from you first.” She said with a sly smile.

“What is it?” he replied with a growl.

“You have to return what she stole from me.” She smiled sweetly, twirling the needle between her fingers.

He paused for a beat, thinking about the request. “What did she steal from you?”

“What else, but a rare flower? It’s quite valuable and I want it back. It’s named the Peruthian Rose, splendid in color, scent, texture. It’s simply exquisite,” she sighed. “-and she stole it. Something about rose scented catnip. I’m sure you don’t want me to try getting it back from her personally, do you?”

“Don’t threaten me, Ivy.” he growled, no doubt thinking of the last time Catwoman stole from Ivy. “I will see what I can do about your plant, now give me the antidote.”

Ivy faked a pout that spread into a dark smile. “You have time to get my rose first. Joker’s two dose venom is fatal only if you don’t stop it before it’s first course through the body, which you must have done with a low dosage antiserum already or else you wouldn’t be here trying to help your precious Cat. Which also means she’ll be going through her second course of the venom without a proper antivenom, which is where this needle comes in. If my chemistry is as good as I know it is, you have an hour to get my rose from wherever she’s hidden it, deliver it to me, and save your pussycat. Until then, you will not receive my cooperation and I promise I will make it very difficult for you to leave here on time. Do this and it’s yours. Easy as that. Not too much to ask for, don’t you think?”

 “Ivy, the only reason I haven’t smashed every pot, ripped down every vine and ground every bud under my boot to take that needle from you by force is because you’ve been on very good behaviour. This better not be a trick. You will give me the antidote the second I bring your flower to you, do you understand?